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Related Concept Videos

Language Development01:22

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

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Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
Components of Language01:24

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Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...
The Nativist Approach01:21

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The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
05:35

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

Music and early language acquisition.

Anthony Brandt1, Molly Gebrian, L Robert Slevc

  • 1Shepherd School of Music, Rice University Houston, TX, USA.

Frontiers in Psychology
|September 14, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Spoken language may be a type of music, with musical ability being crucial for language acquisition. Music learning parallels language acquisition in speed and effort, highlighting music's central role in human development.

Keywords:
childhood developmentdefinition of musicemergent modularitylanguagelanguage acquisitionmusicmusic cognitionmusical development

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Music Cognition

Background:

  • Language is often considered primary to human intelligence.
  • Music, though universal, is typically seen as secondary to language.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Reframe spoken language as a specialized form of music from a developmental viewpoint.
  • Investigate the role of musical ability in language acquisition.
  • Challenge the notion that music cognition develops slower or is more difficult than language.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on music cognition and language acquisition.
  • Comparative analysis of developmental trajectories for music and language learning.

Main Results:

  • Musical hearing and ability are essential for acquiring spoken language.
  • Music learning demonstrates comparable speed and effort to language acquisition.
  • Evidence suggests music cognition does not mature more slowly than language.

Conclusions:

  • Viewing language as a type of music offers a more productive developmental perspective.
  • Music plays a fundamental, not ancillary, role in human development.
  • Music education and research deserve a central position in understanding human cognition.